An insight into the role played by Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick in the impending departure of İlkay Gündoğan has been forthcoming online.
The name of midfielder Gündoğan has of course positioned itself front and centre in the headlines in Catalunya’s capital over the course of the last 24 hours.
This comes amid widespread confirmation that, should all go according to plan, the German international will be on the move before the summer is out.
Amid efforts to clear up space on their wage bill, the Barcelona brass have ushered Gündoğan towards the exit door, amid interest in the signature of the 33-year-old on the part of a whole host of clubs across world football.
Whilst the role of the board at the Camp Nou in the situation has been made clear, though, where does head coach Hansi Flick come into the equation?
The German was until very recently widely reported to have viewed Gündoğan as a central figure in his Barcelona blueprint.
The latest word doing the rounds in the Spanish media, however, paints an altogether different picture.
As per a report from Diario AS, Flick recently informed his fellow countryman during a one-to-one meeting that, owing to the intense pressing system that he is preparing to employ in Catalunya, ‘he did not see him as a starter’.
Barca’s boss, from here, ‘told Deco that he did not see Gündogan playing a leading role in the new Barça he has in mind’.
With the writing all but on the wall, Gündogan, in turn, accepted his fate, ahead of an imminent parting of ways between the two parties.
Conor Laird | GSFN
